Hawaii Community College student named New Century Scholar

Hawaiʻi Community College student Edward Bufil has been named the 2014 Coca-Cola New Century Scholar for the state of Hawaiʻi. Bufil was one of 51 community college students from the United States, Canada and American Samoa to receive the award from a pool of more than 1,700 nominees.

Each New Century Scholar will receive a $2,000 scholarship and be honored at the American Association of College Presidents Convention in Washington, D.C.

He has participated in many service-learning projects related to conservation and reforestation, including planting native species in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. As a student employee with the U.S. Forest Service, he also assisted with research on biological control of invasive species.

Bufil, who aspires to be a park ranger, plans to graduate from Hawaiʻi CC in May with his associate in science from the Forest TEAM program as well as an environmental studies academic subject certificate and will continue his education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

More on the New Century Scholars Program

New Century Scholars are the highest scoring students in each state, plus one student from Canada and one additional student chosen from among one of the remaining seven sovereign nations where Phi Theta Kappa is represented internationally.

In naming the New Century Scholars, judges considered grades, leadership, activities and the ways students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.